Texans safety Ed Reed speaks to his teammates before playing the Ravens.

Texans safety Ed Reed speaks to his teammates before playing the Ravens.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans safety Ed Reed greets the crowd in Baltimore.

Texans safety Ed Reed greets the crowd in Baltimore.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans safety Ed Reed introduced before playing the Ravens.

Texans safety Ed Reed introduced before playing the Ravens.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before facing the Texans.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before facing the Texans.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans quarterback Matt Schaub warms up before facing the Ravens.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub warms up before facing the Ravens.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans tight end Garrett Graham greets fans in Baltimore.

Texans tight end Garrett Graham greets fans in Baltimore.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans fan A.J. Hicks shows off team colors in Baltimore.

Texans fan A.J. Hicks shows off team colors in Baltimore.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans fans show their support in Baltimore.

Texans fans show their support in Baltimore.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Solomon: Five things we learned in Texans' loss to the Ravens

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The Texans failed to score a touchdown Sunday, falling to the Ravens 30-9. It was not a good day at the office.

Five things we learned:

1. Gary Konserviak

Don’t tell me about the tackles were up against it because Duane Brown didn’t play, or that Matt Schaub can’t deal with pressure, or that the Ravens’ defense played well. The Texans’ play calling inside Ravens’ territory was lousy. Period. Yes, three points is better than none, but when you get teams on their heels you have to at least threaten (if not attack) them in the end zone. Instead of taking control of the game early, Houston kept Baltimore in it by settling for field goals. The Texans are one of the few teams in the league that will have a first-and-goal from the 8 and not only run on first down, but never attempt a pass into the end zone. The run lost a yard, then the Texans threw passes on second and third downs and I don’t think they even had a receiver in the end zone on either play. If they did, he wasn’t the first option. That kind of weak play calling will get you beat. Later in the quarter, the Texans took over at the Ravens’ 29, then after a penalty had a first-and-5 at the 24. Three running plays, followed by a pass for a loss of a yard on third down setup another short field goal. Not Kubiak’s finest work off his play menu. And, for now, I’ll just ignore the hurry-up-and-go-nowhere offense that used four minutes of clock to travel all of 16 yards in the fourth quarter. It’s as if Kubiak didn’t know the score.

2. Penalties kill

Undisciplined and overmatched teams usually commit a bunch of penalties. The Texans were not overmatched Sunday, but they were undisciplined. Some of the penalties – taunting, neutral zone infractions, roughing the passer, etc. – were inexcusable. Perhaps the defense was trying to hard to make up for the offense’s ineptitude, but if this was going to be a defensive battle, Houston lost it by making life easier on the Ravens with 14 penalties for 113 yards. At the half, the Ravens had 65 yards of offense, while the Texans had 66 yards in penalties. Baltimore had a bunch of penalties too (10 for 87 yards), but a home team that commits no turnovers, scores on an interception return and a punt return can get away with that.

3. Matt Schaub needs to learn how to tackle.

Kubiak’s warning to his team last week was that it needed to “play clean.” Obviously that didn’t take, as Schaub had another awful interception, misfiring over the middle in the direction of Owen Daniels. Middle linebacker Daryl Smith grabbed the throw and rambled into the end zone with a 37-yard return. It as the second consecutive week that Schaub throw was taken to the house by a defender. Yes, he needs to start working on tackling.

4. Special teams coverage is still an issue.

Joe Marciano survived the offseason, but was given some coaching help with a special teams assistant. Guess he needs some more help, as the Tandon Doss ran through the Texans for an 82-yard touchdown on a punt return in the second quarter. The Texans were last in special teams a year ago, but their coverage issue has been hidden by the spectacular punts and kickoffs by Shane Lechler and Randy Bullock. That issue came back to light in a huge way today.

5. Shane Lechler is the Texans’ best offensive weapon.

Hold up. Did I really just type that? FYI: Lechler is the punter. Do I really need to explain why this is a problem?